Hidden Valley, PA

In support of the Laurel Mountain Volunteer Group's (LMVG) first of three 2010 trail care days, PTAG (Pittsburgh Trails Advocacy Group) will be hosting a "Laurel Mountain Work and Roll Weekend", June 19-20th, 2010.

This is a great opportunity for everyone who enjoys the beautiful trails at Laurel Mountain to kick something back, break a sweat and make the trails even better and more enjoyable!

After a hard day's work, PTAG will be providing cold, tasty, FREE Penn Brewery Craft beer!

The DCNR will be providing FREE camping on Laurel Mountain Saturday night!

On Sunday we FREE-ride and enjoy the fruits of our labor!

Details:
* When: Saturday, June 19th - Sunday, June 20th

* Work: Saturday, 9:30am - 2:30pm. Meet at the Warming Hut parking lot on Summit Road near the entrance to the Laurel Mt. Ski Resort.

* Camp: The DCNR has generously granted us permission to camp over for free Saturday night. PTAG will be providing free beer after Saturday's work session at the camp area. BYO Everything. Bring telescopes too as this site offers a tremendous skyline view. Camping will be located at "Motorized Site #1. Directions: http://www.dcnr.state.pa.us/forestry/camping/forbes.aspx

* Ride: Sunday, 10am. Both brisk and casual-paced rides will be offered with multiple bail points. Everyone rides!

For additional information contact: Frank@dirtragmag.com, 724 433 4486

Hidden Valley Resort will present the annual Spring Carnival March 6 - 7, 2010. More than 220 inches of snow this winter have provided awesome snow conditions this March, and the time has come to celebrate the fact that spring is just around the corner! Guests will enjoy a full schedule of games, activities, and entertainment at the third annual Spring Carnival.

Spring Carnival kicks off on Saturday morning with the opening of the Hidden Valley boardwalk. The Ski Lodge plaza level will be converted into a boardwalk scene. Vendors will be selling barbecued goodies, funnel cakes, chocolate delicacies and other treats. The entire family will enjoy contests and carnival games, free caricatures, face painting, and a strolling magician.

There will be a wide variety of events for everyone to participate in during the carnival. The events are all about having fun with the entire family. With seasonal temperatures in the 40s or warmer and hopefully plenty of sunshine, Spring Carnival will be the perfect time to get out and enjoy the incredible snow conditions.

A few events like the Family Obstacle Course and The Captains Awesome Pirate Adventure Race will require people to have skis or a snowboard and navigate various challenges as they descend the beginner area. Other amusing activities include a tug-o-war, snow volleyball, a hula hoop contest, snow rafting and a snow golf - closest to the pin contest. For the more competitive types, the resort offers a Giant Slalom race. The third and final event of the HV Park Series will take place on Sunday, March 7. This event will be a boarder/skier cross competition. There will be a registration fee for the HV Park Series event and the Giant Slalom race. Events that take place on the slopes do require a valid ski ticket.

The kids will also find plenty of fun beyond the boardwalk scene. Youngsters will have an opportunity to play on the Snowcano near the ski lodge or compete in the Kids Crazy Hat and Helmet Race. Hidden Valley is working with the Family Life Fund of Children's Hospital of Pittsburgh's Foundation to present the Family Fun Zone and Sweet & Treat Bar. This area will feature children's crafts, cookie decorating, smoothies and candy. There will be a nominal fee to the Family Fun Zone activities with proceeds benefiting the Family Life Fund.

Make plans to spend the entire weekend at Hidden Valley with our attractively priced lodging packages which start at just $118 per person and includes lodging and ski tickets. Call 814.443.8000 to make reservations.

For more information on the Spring Carnival and everything Hidden Valley has to offer visit our web site at www.hiddenvalleyresort.com.

We had hoped that the increased sales that we saw after the Buncher group purchased the resort in 2007 would begin a new trend. Unfortunately the economy, increased inventory, and declining prices at Seven Springs have derailed our expectations.

In 2008 there were 80 recorded resale transfers. In 2009 there were only 48. Reviewing the chart below you can see what a tough year this was and how much further up it can go!!

The average sales price here has also declined. In 2008 it went from $225,266 to $210,700 in 2009. When you look around the US at other resort areas and the hits they have taken on prices both of our Pennsylvania Resorts are holding their own!

Only one of the new South Ridge Place condos has transferred. Active listings total 98 with several properties headed into their second year on the market. Our advice is the same on this side of the mountain; make sure you are working with a designated agent!

The Pittsburgh market has come around and that should mean the resort markets will be following. With the stats we watch we believe that this year may very well be the upturn SELLERS have been awaiting. In other words if you are a buyer, NOW is the time to get into your mountain home!

Buyers have great selection with 98 active listings at Hidden Valley and 87 at Seven Springs. Many floor plans offer at least two properties to select from with interior merchandising and location being key factors in the buyers' decision making process.

If 2010 is our turn around then buyers will begin to see falling inventory which means fewer choices! Know that once inflation kicks in the interest rates will start to climb! We share much more in depth statistical information with our clients. We know it gives them a strong competitive edge as 53% of our 30 listed residential properties from 2009 were either SOLD OR PLACED INTO AN AGREEMENT THAT'S WAITING TO SETTLE!!!

We know for a fact that that more and more people are finding what we already know that the Laurel Highlands offers incredible YEAR ROUND ACTIVITIES!!

Stayed tuned for the 2009 year end updates on market stats!!

Last week I attended a public meeting regarding a deep mine application for New Enterprise Stone and Lime. This stone quarry is across the street from Hidden Valley. It wasn't a very large turnout and only three people shared their concerns. We were surprised not to see any representatives from Hidden Valley Resort or the Home Owners Association.

When you're on top of the mountain you can see only a portion of New Enterprise surface mining operations. They propose to deep mine 240 acres for LIMESTONE, NOT COAL. Approximately five and a half additional acres would be surfaced mined to open up an entrance. Here is a link to an aerial map.

Concern arises from the amount of impact the operations may have on the Shaffer Run watershed. Shaffer and Kooser Run are tributaries that may be impacted by the mining. They both feed into Laurel Hill Creek. If you recall, this creek made its way to one of America's top 10 endangered rivers. More recently it made the headlines when a bottling company wanted to with draw 108,000 gallons of water a day. That permit was denied.

The Pennsylvania Department of Environmental Recourses (DEP) is an incredible web site for homeowners. You can search by your zip code or check out their digitized maps to see if there is mining underneath your property! So far 11 of 43 Pennsylvania county maps are posted. Somerset County is still being processed. They even have a Help Desk, the number is 1-800-922-1678.

The DEP has an e-letter that you can sign up for if you would like to keep up with their news! Here's the Link!